Retirement Cuts Draw Criticism, Praise

The deal struck by the Republican House and Democratic Senate, which calls for a one-percent reduction in annual retirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), is drawing sharp criticism from service members’ advocates. “Retirement benefits have been earned through 20 or more years of arduous military service and sacrifice,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, president of the Military Officers Association of America. “If Congress arbitrarily cuts the retirement benefit for those who have served their country for over 20 years, there could be an unintended impact on uniformed service career retention, and ultimately, national security.” Nevertheless, the proposal – announced Dec. 10 by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. – has garnered support as well. “The provision does not break faith with the vast majority of men and women in uniform, since most of them will not retire,” said Lawrence J. Korb and Katherine Blakeley of the Center for American Progress, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “The reduction applies only to working-age retirees – that is, military retirees who have not yet reached the age of 62. When working-age retirees reach the age of 62, their retired pay would be readjusted back to the full amount they would have gotten if they had received the full COLA each year,” said Korb and Blakeley. Korb served as the Pentagon’s manpower chief under President Reagan.